# CVE-2023-43016: IBM Security Access Manager Container unauthorized access

> Remote attackers can log into IBM Security Access Manager containers due to a user account with an empty password, leading to unauthorized access.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 3 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pvv5-7gwv-cvmf

## What is CVE-2023-43016?

CVE-2023-43016 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Ibm Security Verify Access, published on 3 Feb 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Security Access Manager Container (IBM Security Verify Access Appliance 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1) could allow a remote user to log into the server due to a user account with an empty password.  IBM X-Force ID:  266154.

Weakness: CWE-521 (Weak Password Requirements), CWE-258 (Empty Password in Configuration File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-43016?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Ibm Security Verify Access, Ibm Security Verify Access Docker.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-43016?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-43016 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-43016 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43016 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Security Verify Access

- [CVE-2026-78401](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-78401/): Security vulnerabilities have been found in IBM Verify Identity Access and IBM Security Verify Access (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-78406](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-78406/): Security vulnerabilities have been found in IBM Verify Identity Access and IBM Security Verify Access (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-49803](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49803/): IBM Security Verify Access Appliance command execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-39070](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39070/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-49805](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49805/): IBM Security Verify Access Appliance hard coded credentials (critical 9.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-43016 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-43016 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Ibm Security Verify Access, published on 3 Feb 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43016 exists.

Affected product: Ibm Security Verify Access. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43016/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43016/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-43016
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-43016
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-43016

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43016/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.